Why do I need a dog liability insurance at all?
In Germany, owning a dog comes with strict responsibilities. According to German law, you are 100% financially responsible for any damage your dog causes, even if it wasn’t your fault or you weren’t there. If your dog gets startled, runs into the street, and causes a car to swerve and crash, you are liable for the damage. If someone trips over your dog while it’s sleeping, you are also liable for their medical bills.
Your private liability insurance (Privathaftpflichtversicherung) does not cover dogs. It does cover small animals like cats or rabbits, but it strictly excludes dogs. To protect yourself, you need a dedicated dog liability insurance (Hundehaftpflichtversicherung).
It’s mandatory in Berlin – and also in many other federal states in Germany
Mandatory for all dogs
All dog owners in Berlin, Hamburg, Niedersachsen, Sachsen-Anhalt, Schleswig-Holstein and Thüringen need to have a dog liability insurance by law.
Only for Listenhunde
In Baden-Württemberg, Bayern, Hessen, Rheinland-Pfalz, Saarland and Sachsen you only require an insurance if your dog belongs to a breed classified as potentially dangerous (Listenhunde).
Getting caught without required coverage can result in fines of up to 500 EUR. But even in states where this insurance is not mandatory it is highly recommended for dog owners as it covers many things.
What does the dog liability insurance cover then?
Personal injury (Personenschäden)
Covers medical expenses if your dog hurts someone. This is the most dangerous risk, as costs can skyrocket.
- Paying for stitches, surgeries, or physical therapy after a bite
- Covering lost wages if an injured person cannot work.
- Court-ordered compensation for pain and suffering (Schmerzensgeld).
Property damage (Sachschäden)
Covers the cost to repair or replace items belonging to someone else.
- You live in a furnished apartment and your dog destroys the sofa.
- A laptop gets knocked off a table and breaks at a friend’s house.
- Your dog runs into the street, causing a car to swerve and crash into a wall
Financial loss (Vermögensschäden)
Covers secondary financial harm resulting directly from a property or personal injury incident
- Your dog blocks a delivery driver, causing them to miss a crucial drop-off deadline, resulting in a commercial fine for that driver.
Very good plans also cover mating damages, do not require the use of leads and muzzles, and also come with a legal protection insurance that covers you as a pet owner for legal disputes directly linked to your pet.
What does it not cover?
Own damage:
Dog liability insurance is entirely for damage done to others. It will never pay for your own medical bills if your dog bites you, repair costs for your own chewed-up sofa, or your dog’s personal veterinary bills.
Gradual damage:
If your dog leaves scratches on the landlord’s hardwood floors throughout the years by simply living with you in the apartment, the damage is considered wear & tear and would not be covered by the insurance carriers. Only if the scratches are caused by a single event, you would have coverage.
Frequently asked questions
Does my private liability insurance cover my dog?
No. Your private liability insurance (Privathaftpflichtversicherung) does cover small animals like cats or rabbits, but it strictly excludes dogs. To protect yourself, you need a dedicated dog liability insurance (Hundehaftpflichtversicherung).
Is dog liability insurance mandatory in Germany?
It depends on the federal state. All dog owners in Berlin, Hamburg, Niedersachsen, Sachsen-Anhalt, Schleswig-Holstein and Thüringen need to have a dog liability insurance by law.
In Baden-Württemberg, Bayern, Hessen, Rheinland-Pfalz, Saarland and Sachsen you only require an insurance if your dog belongs to a breed classified as potentially dangerous (Listenhunde). Even in states where it is not mandatory it is highly recommended.
What happens if I do not have it where it is required?
Getting caught without required coverage can result in fines of up to 500 EUR.
Am I liable even if the damage was not my fault?
Yes. According to German law you are 100% financially responsible for any damage your dog causes, even if it wasn’t your fault or you weren’t there. If your dog gets startled, runs into the street and causes a car to swerve and crash, you are liable for the damage, and if someone trips over your dog while it is sleeping, you are liable for their medical bills.
Does it cover my own belongings or my dog’s vet bills?
No. Dog liability insurance is entirely for damage done to others. It will never pay for your own medical bills if your dog bites you, repair costs for your own chewed-up sofa, or your dog’s personal veterinary bills; those are what pet health insurance is for.
The bottom line
Two things make dog liability insurance different from most other cover. You are 100% financially responsible for any damage your dog causes, even if it wasn’t your fault or you weren’t there, and your private liability insurance strictly excludes dogs, however well it covers cats or rabbits.
In Berlin, Hamburg, Niedersachsen, Sachsen-Anhalt, Schleswig-Holstein and Thüringen it is required by law, and elsewhere it is still highly recommended. If your dog also needs cover for its own treatment, that is what pet health insurance is for. We are happy to go through both with you.
Contact our dog liability insurance expert!
Danielle Lahav
Email: danielle.lahav@versicherungsbuero-weiss.com
Telefon: +49 30-40 36 31 95 6